Footprints of the Pharaohs: Self-Launched Egypt Adventure

Arrive at Cairo International Airport (CAI). Take the Cairo Metro Line 3 or a pre-booked airport taxi (agree price beforehand — expect £5–8 to central Cairo) to your hostel or budget hotel in the Zamalek or Downtown area. Spend the evening getting oriented, grabbing a koshary from a local restaurant (£1–2), and picking up an Egyptian SIM card at the airport (Vodafone or Orange, ~£3 with data).

🚌Airport taxi to central Cairo (~£5–8) or Metro Line 3 (~£0.30)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Downtown Cairo or Zamalek (e.g. Cairo Inn Hostel, Mama Noura Boutique Hotel) — approx. £15–20/night

• →Arrive at Cairo International Airport
• →Take airport taxi or Metro Line 3 to central Cairo (£5–8)
• →Pick up Egyptian SIM card at airport (~£3)
• →Explore the neighbourhood and eat koshary for dinner

Head out early to beat the crowds. Take a Uber or local taxi to the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx (entry ~£12). Hiring a local freelance guide at the gate is optional (~£15–20 for 2hrs) but you can self-navigate with the free Rick Steves audio guide or a downloaded guidebook. Afterwards, grab a local microbus south to Memphis open-air museum (~£1) and then on to Saqqara to see Djoser's Step Pyramid (~£10 entry). Return to Cairo by taxi in the evening.

🚌Taxi/Uber Giza (~£5–8 each way); local microbus Memphis–Saqqara (~£1–2)

🛏Downtown Cairo budget hotel (same as Day 1)

• →Visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx (entry ~£12)
• →Explore Memphis open-air museum (entry ~£5)
• →Visit Saqqara necropolis and Djoser's Step Pyramid (entry ~£10)
• →Optional: interior access to a pyramid (extra ~£15–25)

Spend the morning at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near Giza — book tickets online in advance (~£18). Allow 3–4 hours to explore Tutankhamun's treasures and the vast collection. Head to Ramses or Giza station in the afternoon and board the overnight sleeper train to Luxor (book via Egyptian National Railways or a local agent — Tourist Sleeper Train, approx. £40–55 including dinner and breakfast). Arrive in Luxor the next morning.

🚌Overnight sleeper train Cairo–Luxor (~£40–55 per person, book via Egyptian Railways or a local agent)

🛏Overnight sleeper train (berth included in ticket price)

• →Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum including Tutankhamun's treasures (entry ~£18, book online)
• →Board overnight sleeper train to Luxor from Ramses/Giza station (~£40–55)

Arrive in Luxor in the morning, check into your guesthouse on the East Bank, and freshen up. Then arrange a day trip to Dendera — take a local minibus or shared taxi north to Qena (~£2–3, 1hr), then a short tuk-tuk to the Temple of Hathor (~£1). Entry to Dendera is ~£12. The temple's ceiling zodiac and the famous Cleopatra relief are stunning and rarely crowded. Return to Luxor by shared taxi in the afternoon. Grab dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Nile (~£4–6).

🚌Shared taxi/minibus Luxor–Qena (~£2–3), tuk-tuk to temple (~£1)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel on Luxor East Bank (e.g. Nour Al Balad, Boomerang Hotel) — approx. £12–18/night

• →Check into Luxor guesthouse on the East Bank
• →Day trip to Dendera Temple of Hathor by shared taxi (~£2–3 each way)
• →Explore the Zodiac of Dendera and Cleopatra relief (entry ~£12)
• →Dinner at a Luxor rooftop Nile-view restaurant (~£4–6)

An epic day on both banks of the Nile. Cross to the West Bank by local ferry (£0.30) then hire a local driver with a car for the day (~£20–25) to visit the Valley of the Kings (entry ~£14, includes 3 tombs; Tutankhamun's tomb extra ~£12), Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (entry ~£10), and the Colossi of Memnon (free). Return to the East Bank and walk or take a calèche (horse carriage) to Karnak Temple complex (~£10 entry) at sunset for the beautiful light. Book the optional hot air balloon over the West Bank temples through GetYourGuide or a local operator for around £80–100 at dawn.

🚌Local ferry to West Bank (£0.30); hired car for West Bank (~£20–25); calèche or walk for Karnak

🛏Luxor East Bank guesthouse (same as Day 4)

• →Cross to West Bank by local ferry (£0.30)
• →Visit Valley of the Kings — 3 tombs included (entry ~£14)
• →Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (entry ~£10)
• →See Colossi of Memnon (free)
• →Visit Karnak Temple and Sphinx Avenue at sunset (entry ~£10)
• →Optional: hot air balloon over the temples at dawn (~£80–100, book via GetYourGuide)

Morning visit to the Museum of Luxor (~£8) to see pharaonic art and royal mummies — it's smaller and less crowded than Cairo's museums. Walk the Corniche to Luxor Temple in the afternoon (~£10) — stunning at both day and dusk. If you've joined a budget Nile cruise (see transport note), you may be watching the boat pass through Esna Lock this evening — a wonderful spectacle. Alternatively, take a local bus or taxi to Esna (~£2) to watch the lock from the bank. Dinner on board or at a local Esna eatery.

🚌Walking/calèche along the Corniche; local bus to Esna (~£2) if not on cruise

🛏Budget Nile cruise cabin (e.g. booked via a local Luxor agent, 4-night cruise Luxor–Aswan from ~£80–120pp total) OR Luxor guesthouse if not cruising

• →Visit Museum of Luxor (entry ~£8)
• →Visit Luxor Temple statues and royal mummies area (entry ~£10)
• →Watch boats navigate the Esna Lock (view from bank, free; or from aboard a budget cruise)

If on a budget Nile cruise, the boat will dock at Edfu and Kom Ombo — both included stops. Otherwise, take local microbuses or shared taxis south from Luxor: Edfu (~£3, 2hrs) to visit the magnificent Temple of Horus (~£10 entry), then continue to Kom Ombo (~£2, 1hr) for the extraordinary twin temples of Sobek and Haroeris (~£8 entry). Visit the excellent Crocodile Mummification Museum next door (entry ~£3). Browse souvenir stalls and enjoy a shisha at an open-air café by the Nile (~£2). Continue south to Aswan by shared taxi (~£3).

🚌Shared taxis: Luxor–Edfu (~£3), Edfu–Kom Ombo (~£2), Kom Ombo–Aswan (~£3); OR cruise boat

🛏Budget Nile cruise cabin OR budget guesthouse in Aswan (e.g. Memnon Hotel, Beit El Kerem) — approx. £12–18/night

• →Visit Temple of Edfu dedicated to God Horus (entry ~£10)
• →Visit twin temples of Kom Ombo dedicated to Sobek and Haroeris (entry ~£8)
• →Visit Crocodile Mummification Museum (~£3)
• →Shisha at an open-air Nile café (~£2)

Rise very early (3–4am) to join the official convoy to Abu Simbel — book a seat in a shared minibus through your guesthouse (~£15–20 return, including convoy fees). Entry to Abu Simbel temples of Rameses II and Nefertari is ~£20. Return to Aswan by midday. Visit the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries (~£5). In the afternoon, hire a felucca for a 2-hour sail around the Nile Cataracts, past Elephantine Island and with views of the Mausoleum of the Aga Khan (~£8–12 per person, negotiate directly at the dock). Dinner in Aswan's souq area.

🚌Shared convoy minibus to Abu Simbel (~£15–20 return); felucca hire (~£8–12pp)

🛏Aswan budget guesthouse (same as Day 7 if not on cruise)

• →Early convoy minibus to Abu Simbel (~£15–20 return, shared)
• →Visit Temple of Abu Simbel — Rameses II and Nefertari temples (entry ~£20)
• →Visit Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan granite quarries (entry ~£5)
• →Hire a felucca for Nile Cataracts sail, past Elephantine Island (~£8–12pp)
• →View Mausoleum of Aga Khan from the water (free)

Take a short motorboat from Aswan's Shellal dock to Philae Island (~£5 return, shared boat) to visit the exquisite Temple of Isis (entry ~£10). The island setting on the reservoir is magical, especially in the morning light. Return to Aswan and head to the airport for your flight back to Cairo (book in advance with EgyptAir or Air Cairo, ~£40–60). Arrive Cairo and transfer to your hotel by Metro or taxi. Rest and explore a local café in the evening.

🚌Shared motorboat to Philae (~£5 return); flight Aswan–Cairo (~£40–60, book in advance)

🛏Downtown Cairo budget hotel (e.g. Cairo Inn Hostel or similar) — approx. £15–20/night

• →Motorboat to Philae Island (~£5 return, shared)
• →Visit Temple of Isis on Philae Island (entry ~£10)
• →Fly Aswan–Cairo (book with EgyptAir/Air Cairo, ~£40–60)

A full day exploring two of Cairo's most atmospheric historic quarters — both easily walkable. Start at the Citadel of Saladin (entry ~£8) and the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali inside. Walk north down Al Muizz Street — a UNESCO-listed medieval Islamic boulevard — to the Khan El Khalili bazaar (free to browse, haggle for souvenirs). Lunch at a local foul/ta'meya spot (~£2). Afternoon: head south to Coptic Cairo (free entry to the quarter) to visit the Hanging Church (~£2), Church of St. George, Church of Abu Serga, and the Synagogue of Ben Ezra. End the day with tea at a famous Khan El Khalili café.

🚌Metro/walking between sites (Metro ~£0.30 per journey)

🛏Downtown Cairo budget hotel (same as Day 9)

• →Visit Citadel of Saladin and Alabaster Mosque (entry ~£8)
• →Walk Al Muizz Street through Islamic Cairo (free)
• →Explore Khan El Khalili bazaar (free)
• →Visit Hanging Church, Church of St. George, Church of Abu Serga, Synagogue of Ben Ezra in Coptic Cairo (~£2 entry)
• →Tea at a historic Khan El Khalili café (~£1–2)

Catch an early morning train from Cairo's Ramses Station to Alexandria (book in advance, ~£5–8, 2hrs). Take a local tram or taxi to explore the main sites: the Roman Amphitheatre/Odeon (~£5), Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa (~£8), and Fort Qaitbay on the peninsula (~£5). Enjoy a long, leisurely Mediterranean seafood lunch at a local restaurant on the Corniche (~£8–12). Visit the impressive Bibliotheca Alexandrina (New Library, entry ~£4) in the afternoon. Return train to Cairo in the evening.

🚌Train Cairo–Alexandria return (~£10–16 total); local trams/taxis in Alexandria (~£3–5)

🛏Downtown Cairo budget hotel (same as Days 9–10)

• →Train Cairo–Alexandria from Ramses Station (~£5–8, book in advance)
• →Visit Roman Amphitheatre of Alexandria (~£5)
• →Visit Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa (~£8)
• →Visit Fort Qaitbay (entry ~£5)
• →Seafood lunch on the Mediterranean Corniche (~£8–12)
• →Visit Bibliotheca Alexandrina (entry ~£4)
• →Return train Alexandria–Cairo (~£5–8)

Book a shared day trip from Cairo to El Fayoum Oasis through a local budget operator or hostel noticeboard (full-day 4x4 trip including Wadi Hitan, Wadi Rayan, and Tunis Village — approx. £25–35pp in a shared group). Alternatively, take a microbus from Cairo's Mounib station to Fayoum city (~£1.50), then a local 4x4 to Wadi Rayan (~£5). Highlights: ancient whale fossils at Wadi Hitan (UNESCO site, entry ~£5), the cascades and surreal Magic Lake at Wadi Rayan (~£3), sandboarding the dunes (~free), and browsing the ceramic workshops of Tunis village. Bring a packed lunch or buy at Tunis village cafés.

🚌Shared 4x4 day trip from Cairo (~£25–35pp total including transport); OR microbus to Fayoum (~£1.50) + local 4x4

🛏Downtown Cairo budget hotel (same as previous nights)

• →Shared 4x4 day trip to El Fayoum from Cairo (~£25–35pp)
• →Visit Wadi Hitan whale fossil site (entry ~£5)
• →Explore Wadi Rayan cascades and Magic Lake (entry ~£3)
• →Sandboarding on the Sahara dunes (free)
• →Visit Tunis village ceramic workshops (free to browse)

Final morning in Cairo. Enjoy a last Egyptian breakfast — ful medames, eggs, and fresh bread at a local café (~£2). Depending on your flight time, squeeze in a last stroll along the Nile Corniche or pick up any remaining souvenirs. Head to Cairo International Airport by taxi or Metro (~£5–8). Check in and depart — you've just done one of the world's great historical journeys at a fraction of the group tour cost.

🚌Taxi or Metro to Cairo International Airport (~£5–8)

🛏N/A – departure day

• →Final Egyptian breakfast at a local café (~£2)
• →Last stroll along the Nile Corniche or souvenir shopping
• →Transfer to Cairo International Airport by taxi or Metro (~£5–8)